Yugoslav general 'ready to surrender'

Ojdanic looks set to join Milosevic at The Hague

By Alix Kroeger BBC correspondent in Belgrade

A former Yugoslav army general indicted for war crimes in Kosovo has indicated he is willing to surrender to the Hague tribunal.

General Dragoljub Ojdanic has said he will go to the Hague next week.

A deadline for suspects to surrender was due to expire on Saturday, but because the courts do not work on the weekend it has been extended until Monday.

The deadline for suspects to hand themselves over has been extended

General Ojdanic commanded the Yugoslav armed forces in Kosovo in 1998 and 1999.

On Wednesday, the Yugoslav Government, which has now pledged to cooperate with the Hague, issued a list of 23 war crimes suspects.

It gave them three days to hand themselves over in return for guarantees of pre-trial release.

General Ojdanic appears to be considering this option.

In an interview with Vesti, a Serbian language newspaper in Germany, he said he was packing his bags, but slowly.

His lawyer said his client would go to the Hague some time next week, although probably not on Monday or Tuesday, as certain formalities remain to be completed.

The general told Vesti that in going to the Hague he was fulfilling his oath to his country, just as he did in Kosovo in defending it against Nato's aggression - the bombing campaign in 1999 which led to the end of Serbian control over the province.